The family of Giles Carter of Henrico was researched and documented in a book by Gen. William Giles Harding Carter which was published in 1909. That manuscript has provided many clues for Carter descendants searching for their heritage, and reveals the expansion of this family into numerous other counties and, later, other southern states. It was of necessity that the scope of research was limited to his immediate lineal descent, and nearly a hundred years later, more research is necessary to connect the fragmentary extant records for this family to become more fully known.

A bold statement by Gen. Carter in his introduction places important emphasis on this early Carter family and others like it, saying that Giles Carter of 1634, planter and stock farmer, "had been prominently identified with no public office nor great industrial or commercial undertakings...." It was not in the spotlight that this family flourished. Yet, in strengthening the infrastructure of the Colony with progressive growth and expansion of their agricultural and stock farming capabilities, they made an important contribution to the building of our nation".

It has recently been proven the father of Giles of Henrico was Theodor Cartor of Cirencester, and not Giles of Cold Aston as proposed by Gen. Carter. Giles was baptized on 24 April 1635.